Lone Butte Fire Department mourns loss of member

South Cariboo - It is with deep regret the Cariboo Regional District's Lone Butte Volunteer Fire Department announces the passing of volunteer firefighter, Henry Van Kessel as a result of a motor vehicle incident (MVI) that happened on the morning of Saturday, November 20, 2010.

At approximately 10:30 a.m., Van Kessel, a member of the department since 2007, was travelling to the Lone Butte Fire Hall in response to a mutual aid call from the Watch/Green Lake Volunteer Fire Department for a chimney fire. Just east of the fire hall on Highway 24, Van Kessel was involved in a two vehicle incident.

The Lone Butte Volunteer Fire Department responded to the MVI, and discovered it was team member, Henry Van Kessel. The Lone Butte VFD initiated first responder and auto extrication tactics, and called for mutual aid assistance from the 100 Mile House Fire Department's auto extrication unit. Van Kessel was transported to the 100 Mile House and District Memorial Hospital where he unfortunately succumbed to his injuries.

150 Mile House Volunteer Fire Department Chief, Stan McCarthy provided Workman's Compensation Board critical incident counselling to Lone Butte members on Saturday and will also be returning to Lone Butte this evening for further counselling.

The 62 year old Van Kessel leaves behind family and many friends from the south Cariboo, Vancouver's Lower Mainland, Ontario and Cuba. Members of the Lone Butte Volunteer Fire Department and Henry's family are in the process of making service arrangements.

The Cariboo Regional District Board of Directors and staff offer their condolences to Mr. Van Kessel's family, friends and the members of the Lone Butte Volunteer Fire Department for their loss.